Kopp Wins Rapid City GNC Half Mile

By Freelance | 8/11/2004 12:00 AM

Last night, defending AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr came into Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota, on a roll, as he had won the last two Nationals in convincing style. When the race was over, KTM/Jones Powersports/Mid-America Harley-Davidson’s Joe Kopp stopped it.

The Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford backed Carr had been edging away from arch rival Joe Kopp, in the points race, but at the Rapid City Half Mile, round 10 of the AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship got the holeshot in the 25-lap main event and breezed to a comfortable lead over Carr early. Carr slowly started to Kopp in, and he took the lead away on lap 15, but Kopp never gave in and stalked Carr, blasting back by on lap 23 and went on to take the win. The battle of the rival teams extended to third and fourth place as well, as KTM/Jones Powersports/Mid-America Harley-Davidson’s Kenny Coolbeth held off Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned Ford’ Willie McCoy for the final podium spot. The two stayed close, but were unable to challenge the leaders.

Although Kopp’s win allowed him to pick up a few points on Carr, the champ’s runner-up meant that little was trimmed from his series points lead. Carr still leads Kopp, 184-159, with seven rounds remaining in the series.

SuperTrapp/Moroney’s Cycle’s Mike Hacker worked his way forward from a third-row start, taking fifth on the last lap from Lancaster Harley-Davidson’s Jared Mees, who was forced to drop off the pace with a chunked rear tire. Doc’s Harley-Davidson/KK Motorcycle Supply’s Bryan Smith was a solid seventh over Coziahr Harley-Davidson/National Cycle’s Johnny Murphree, who was forced to a fourth-row start when he went to his backup bike for the main. KK Supply/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson’s Geo Roeder and Moroney’s Cycles’ Jake Johnson rounded out the top 10.